President welcomes agreement with India on Rafale planes

India – Acquisition of 36 Rafale planes – Communiqué issued by the Presidency of the Republic

Paris, 23 September 2016

The French President welcomes the completion of negotiations on India’s acquisition of 36 Rafale planes. In April 2015 Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced his intention to proceed with this acquisition, in the framework of a partnership between governments and in the context of strategic relations forged decades ago between France and India.

The agreement, signed in New Delhi today by Defence Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian, signals the recognition by a major military and strategic power of the French aerospace industry’s operational performance, technological excellence and competitiveness. It builds on a military aerospace partnership initiated more than 50 years ago.

With the sale of 84 Rafale fighter planes since 2015, the government has ensured not only respect for the balance of the military estimates act but also the maintenance and development of a very hi-tech industry essential to our sovereignty. This is the result of coordinated efforts by the authorities and manufacturers which, once again, are bearing fruit.

The President congratulates the GIE [Economic Interest Grouping] Rafale and MBDA teams and the military and civilian Defence Ministry teams who put together this major project for our country and our industry./.